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Panasonic TC-PV10 series photos

The high-end Panasonic TC-PV10 series of plasmas delivers the overall best picture quality of any flat-panel HDTV we've tested so far this year.

David Katzmaier
David reviews TVs and leads the Personal Tech team at CNET, covering mobile, software, computing, streaming and home entertainment. We provide helpful, expert reviews, advice and videos on what gadget or service to buy and how to get the most out of it.
David Katzmaier
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Panasonic TC-PV10 series overview

In our review of Panasonic's G10 plasma we discussed how it competed for picture quality supremacy against Pioneer's now-discontinued Kuro PRO-111FD--still the best HDTV ever--and how ultimately it couldn't quite match the Kuro. The same basic story stays true for the TC-PV10 series, but it's even better than the G10. This Panasonic plasma has the same deep blacks that grace its less expensive little brother, and adds a couple of key improvements: better video processing to handle 1080p/24 sources, and more picture adjustments that allow it to transcend the limitations of THX mode. Its picture should satisfy even the pickiest of videophiles, and it also outperforms any LCD-based display, LED or otherwise, we've ever tested. Beyond image quality, the V10 delivers plenty of features and an eye-catching one-sheet-of-glass design, for a combination that deserves serious consideration from buyers willing to pay for it.
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Panasonic TC-PV10 series corner detail

The Panasonic TC-PV10 is one sleek plasma. Its main external differentiator is what the company calls "one sheet of glass" design, where a pane of glass extends beyond the edge of the screen and over the bezel itself, leading to a seamless look that's even more impressive in person than in pictures. (It's worth noting that only the 50- and 54-inch models feature the one-sheet design; the larger members of the series have the more traditional, visually separate bezel around the screen). The V10 series eschews the relatively bright silver fade along the bottom of the frame seen on the company's step-down TC-PG10 models, instead opting for a much subtler silver accent that arcs slightly upward in the middle. We think the V10 looks more attractive and sophisticated than the G10, and indeed it's one of the coolest-looking TV designs we've seen this year.
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Panasonic TC-PV10 series stand detail

The 50-inch V10 model's stands include a swivel, an extra not found on less expensive Panasonic plasmas--nor on any of the larger sizes in the series.
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Panasonic TC-PV10 series side angle

The black frame around the screen is a bit wider than that of the G10 series, leading to the V10's slightly larger height and width dimensions (0.2 and 0.9 inch, respectively, on the 50-incher for example). The panels' depth dimension, on the other hand, is just 3.3 inches--not quite as thin as Samsung's 850 series plasmas or Panasonic's own Z1, but thinner than the 4.2 inches of the G10 models. If you're keeping track, the 50-inch V10 also weighs 4.4 pounds more than the 50-inch G10, which is probably due to that big pane of glass.
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Panasonic TC-PV10 series remote

The remote differs from the one found on less expensive Panasonic plasmas, and in general we liked it. Panasonic's marketing guys got to the button designers, however, and apparently mandated that an unnecessarily prominent trio of keys--Viera Link, VieraCast and VieraTools--appear above the central cursor control. Each provides direct access to functions we'll warrant most users won't access as frequently as the Menu key, and the trio relegates that button to an easily-overlooked spot near the top of the clicker. We still like the feel of the keys, and appreciate the size, color and shape differentiation that helps us forget that only the huge volume and channel buttons are illuminated. The remote cannot control other devices via infrared (IR) commands, but it does allow some control of compatible HDMI devices connected to the TV via Viera Link (a.k.a. HDMI-CEC).
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Panasonic TC-PV10 series back panel inputs

There are plenty of connections on the V10 series, including three HDMI and two component-video jacks on the rear panel, as well as an Ethernet port (not shown) for network connections.
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Panasonic TC-PV10 series side panel inputs

The side panel adds a fourth HDMI jack, a PC input and another AV input.
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Panasonic TC-PV10 series VieraCast home screen

VieraCast is Panasonic's interactive TV feature. It offers access to YouTube videos, photos stored on your Picasa account, stocks and headlines courtesy of Bloomberg, and local weather. It connects to the internet via an Ethernet port on the back of the TV. Panasonic regrettably does not include wireless capability nor sell a wireless dongle, although it says third-party wireless bridges or powerline adapters will work fine.
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Panasonic TC-PV10 series VieraCast YouTube screen

You can play YouTube videos on the big screen.
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Panasonic TC-PV10 series Amazon VOD

New for 2009 Panasonic has added the ability to access Amazon Video on Demand via VieraCast. The pay-per-view movie and TV service is integrated nicely into the television, includes access to so-called high-def content, and can supplement or supplant cable or satellite PPV offerings with its significantly larger catalog. We also appreciate that, unlike some implementations of Amazon VOD, VieraCast allows you to preview content before purchase.
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Panasonic TC-PV10 series THX mode

The V10 models also offer THX Display Certification. When you engage THX picture mode the V10's color accuracy, shadow detail and numerous other picture characteristics improve significantly without you having to make a bunch of adjustments. THX comes close to a "one-step calibration," but in the V10's case it's not as effective as using the Custom mode and Pro adjust settings.
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Panasonic TC-PV10 series Pro settings

Panasonic offers fewer picture adjustments than lot of other HDTV makers, but the V10 includes more advanced adjustments, thanks to the Pro Setting menu, than step-down models. The Pro Setting menu, which is only available in the Custom mode, offers white balance controls to tweak grayscale, although they're less-complete (lacking control for green) than on other HDTVs. That menu also includes a gamma control and numerous other settings, and its presence really helped improve the TV's picture.
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Panasonic TC-PV10 series Digital Cinema Color mode

The other big step-up is Digital Cinema Color, which allows the V10 to show a wider color space than the traditional HDTV color space. Since Blu-ray discs are produced in the HDTV color space, however, we prefer to leave DCC turned off--in fact, DCC is defeated and rendered nonadjustable if you select THX mode.
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Panasonic TC-PV10 series 1080p/24 mode

The V10 has the ability to refresh the screen at 96Hz, which allows the TV to properly maintain the cadence of film when fed a 1080p/24 source--typically from a Blu-ray player (the refresh rate remains fixed at the standard 60Hz for non-1080p/24 sources). The V10 also has a 48Hz setting, but we recommend using 96Hz instead since the 48Hz option can introduce flicker.
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Panasonic TC-PV10 series picture quality

In all, the Panasonic TC-PV10 series delivers the best picture quality of any flat-panel TV we've tested so far this year. Its deep black levels are it biggest strength, and its color reproduction was accurate enough, especially given the extra controls, to satisfy all but the strictest videophiles. Said videophiles will also appreciate the V10's ability to properly handle 1080p/24 sources.

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